The Complete Guide to Finding Grants for UK Charities

Finding the right grants is the difference between wasting hours on rejections and winning funding that aligns perfectly with your mission. Yet most UK charities waste countless hours submitting applications to funders who will never say yes.

The problem isn't a lack of available funding. In 2023-24, over 14,000 UK grantmakers provided grants worth more than £23 billion. The National Lottery Community Fund alone awarded over £686 million in the last year. But here's the sobering reality: the average charity grant success rate in the UK has fallen to around 35.6%, down from 40% in 2020. For some major foundations, the acceptance rate can be as low as 6-8%.

Why such high rejection rates? The answer is simple but often overlooked: most charities waste time applying to poor-fit funders. They take a "spray and pray" approach, sending generic proposals to dozens of foundations without proper research. It's the fundraising equivalent of throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks.

But there's good news. Charities that conduct strategic funder research dramatically improve their success rates – often jumping to 40% or higher. The most successful charities don't apply to 50+ funders each year. Instead, they apply to 5-10 carefully selected funders where they have an excellent fit, strong relationship potential, and realistic chance of success.

In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn exactly where to search for UK grants, how to conduct forensic funder research that reveals what foundations actually fund (not just what they say they fund), and how to qualify prospects so you only invest time in high-probability applications.

By the end, you'll have access to a free funder research toolkit including templates, checklists, and a database of top UK grant-making trusts. Let's begin by understanding the landscape you're operating in.

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The Foundation: Understanding the UK Grant Landscape

Before you start searching, you need to understand who's out there and what you're up against. The UK grant landscape is diverse, with thousands of funders ranging from tiny family trusts to massive national programmes.

Types of Grant Funders in the UK

1. Charitable Trusts and Foundations

This is the largest category of UK grant makers. There are thousands of charitable trusts in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, ranging from small family trusts with assets under £100,000 to major foundations like Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (which distributes £45-50 million per year) and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

Examples include:

• Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (grants typically £30,000 minimum for 3-5 years)
• Tudor Trust (core funding for community organisations)
• Paul Hamlyn Foundation (grants £60,000-£300,000 for arts and youth work)
• Garfield Weston Foundation (grants £2,000-£100,000+)

Typical grant sizes: £1,000 to £500,000+

2. National Lottery Distributors

These are major funding programmes that distribute money raised by National Lottery players:

• National Lottery Community Fund (the largest, with a £225 million Solidarity Fund launched in 2025 offering grants of £1-5 million for 5-10 year projects)
• Heritage Fund (grants from £10,000 to £10 million for heritage projects)
• Arts Council England (supporting arts and cultural organisations)
• Sport England (funding grassroots sport and physical activity)

Typical grants: £10,000 to £500,000

3. Government Grants

These include:

• Local authority grants and commissioning
• Central government programmes
• Department-specific funding (DCMS, DEFRA, etc.)
• EU transition funding (still available for some programmes)

Typical grants: £5,000 to £1,000,000+

4. Corporate Funders

Company foundations and corporate social responsibility programmes represent a smaller but growing pool of funding. These often focus on causes aligned with the company's business (e.g., Tesco Community Grants for food poverty, Lloyds Bank Foundation for complex social issues).

Typical grants: £500 to £50,000

5. Community Foundations

The UK Community Foundations network includes 47 accredited community foundations covering every nation and region in the UK. Last year, they distributed over £170 million to support more than 40,000 grassroots community-led projects. These foundations have a local or regional focus, manage funds from various donors, and typically offer quick turnaround times.

Examples: London Community Foundation, County Durham Community Foundation, Quartet Community Foundation (Bristol), Foundation Scotland

Typical grants: £500 to £25,000

How Much Funding is Available?

The numbers are staggering. According to 360Giving, open grants data now represents over £300 billion worth of funding shared by the UK grant-making community. In 2023-24 alone, UK grantmakers distributed more than £23 billion.

But before you get excited, understand the competitive reality.

The Competitive Reality

• Most charitable trusts receive 100-1,000+ applications per year
• Average success rates: 15-30% for first-time applicants
• Major foundations like Esmée Fairbairn Foundation have just a 6% overall success rate (and only 7% of expressions of interest are invited to submit full proposals)
• The Ellerman Foundation reports an 8% success rate
• Many successful applications come from organisations with existing relationships or perfect strategic fit

Here's the key takeaway: Quality over quantity. Five perfect-fit applications to funders who know your work will beat 50 spray-and-pray submissions every single time.

The charity sector is more competitive than ever. Applications to many foundations surged 30-50% in 2023-2024, with some seeing applications double. Meanwhile, while foundation giving is growing (up 12% in the UK in 2023-24), demand far outpaces supply. Learn more about UK charity grant success rates.

Now that you understand the landscape, let's explore where to actually find these funders.

Where to Search for UK Grants

This section is the heart of your funder research toolkit. We'll cover both free and paid resources, with specific instructions on how to use each one effectively.

Free Resources

1. Hinchilla Funder Directory

Website: Hinchilla Funder Directory

What it is: Our curated directory of hundreds of UK grant-making trusts and foundations, organised by cause area, location, and grant size. Each funder profile includes eligibility criteria, typical grant amounts, application processes, and direct links to their websites.

Best for: Quickly discovering relevant funders based on your cause area, location, and funding needs. Ideal for initial research and building your prospect list.

How to use it:

1. Visit the Funder Directory and filter by your cause area (e.g., Education, Health, Environment)
2. Add location filters to find funders active in your region
3. Browse funder profiles to understand their priorities, typical grant sizes, and eligibility requirements
4. Click through to funder websites to access application forms and detailed guidance
5. Save promising funders to research more deeply using the methods below

Pro tip: Use multiple category filters to discover funders at the intersection of different cause areas. For example, a youth mental health charity might filter for both "Health & Medical" and "Children & Young People" to find funders supporting both areas.

Example categories: Browse by Community Foundations, England-based funders, or search for specific major funders like National Lottery Community Fund.

2. 360Giving Data

Website: www.threesixtygiving.org | GrantNav search tool: grantnav.threesixtygiving.org

What it is: 360Giving is a charity that champions open grants data. Over 300 UK funders publish data in the 360Giving Data Standard, representing over £300 billion worth of grants. Their search engine, GrantNav, lets you explore this data for free.

Best for: Seeing who funds what in your sector and region. This isn't about stated priorities – it's about actual grants awarded.

How to use it:

1. Visit GrantNav and search by location, grant amount, cause area, or recipient organisation
2. Look for funders who have awarded grants to organisations similar to yours
3. Analyse giving patterns: What's their typical grant size? Do they fund core costs or projects? How many new grantees do they take on each year?
4. Download the data as a CSV file and filter by your specific criteria in Excel or Google Sheets

Pro tip: Don't just search for your exact cause area. Look at who's funding organisations in your geographic area or similar-sized organisations. You'll discover funders you didn't know about who might be perfect fits.

Example: If you're a youth mental health charity in Manchester, search for grants made in Manchester to mental health organisations OR to youth organisations, then cross-reference to find funders active in both areas.

3. Charity Commission Register

Website: register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk

What it is: The official register of all charities in England and Wales (separate registers exist for Scotland via OSCR and Northern Ireland). Every registered charity must file annual reports and accounts.

Best for: Researching specific grant-making charities and downloading their Trustees' Annual Reports (TARs) which contain detailed information about their grant-making activities.

How to use it:

1. Search for a grant-making trust by name
2. Click through to view their charity details
3. Download the latest Trustees' Annual Report (usually under "Accounts and annual returns")
4. Look for the "Grants Made" section, which lists all grants awarded
5. Note the trustees' names (useful for relationship building)
6. Check the "Objectives and activities" section to understand current priorities

Pro tip: Look at the "activities" field when browsing. Many grant-making trusts are classified under specific cause areas, making them easier to identify when you're doing exploratory research.

4. UK Community Foundations Network

Website: www.ukcommunityfoundations.org

What it is: The network of 47 accredited community foundations covering every nation and region in the UK. With a shared commitment to tackling local issues, the network distributed over £170 million last year.

Best for: Local and regional funding opportunities, especially for smaller charities and grassroots projects.

How to use it:

1. Visit the website and use the interactive map to find your local community foundation
2. Visit your local foundation's website to check current funding programmes
3. Sign up for their newsletter (they announce new funds and deadlines)
4. Attend information sessions or workshops (most are free)
5. Build a relationship with programme officers – they can guide you to funds you might not know about

Pro tip: Community foundations often manage multiple funds with different criteria. Don't just look at their main programmes – check their full list of funds. Many have small, targeted funds (e.g., "Support for women in North Bristol" or "Youth projects in Durham") that receive far fewer applications.

5. Lottery Funding Portals

National Lottery Community Fund: www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

The largest UK lottery distributor, awarding over £686 million in the last year. In 2025, they launched the Solidarity Fund with £225 million available for grants of £1-5 million over 5-10 years to tackle root causes of inequality. They also offer smaller community grants from £300 to £10,000.

Heritage Fund: www.heritagefund.org.uk

Grants from £10,000 to £10 million for heritage projects. For grants under £250,000, there are no deadlines and decisions are made within 8 weeks. For grants over £250,000, there are specific deadlines throughout the year.

Arts Council England: www.artscouncil.org.uk

What they are: National Lottery distributors with substantial budgets and professional application processes

Best for: Larger grants (£10,000+), multi-year funding, and specific cause areas (heritage, arts, community, sport)

How to use:

1. Check current funding programmes on their websites
2. Attend webinars and information sessions (highly recommended – you can ask questions and gauge your fit)
3. Use their "funding finder" tools to check eligibility before applying
4. For larger grants, consider submitting an expression of interest first
5. Read case studies of successful projects to understand what they fund

Pro tip: Lottery funders publish extensive guidance and run regular training sessions. Invest time in these – they significantly improve your application quality and help you understand what reviewers are looking for.

6. GOV.UK Funding Finder

Website: www.gov.uk/business-finance-support

What it is: A searchable database of government grant programmes and financial support schemes

Best for: Government and quasi-government funding opportunities, including innovation funds, environmental programmes, and community development

How to use:

1. Filter by location, sector, and organisation type
2. Check eligibility criteria carefully – government grants often have strict requirements
3. Note deadlines – many government grants are first-come, first-served
4. Download application guidance early and read thoroughly

Pro tip: Government grants often require matched funding or have complex reporting requirements. Factor this into your decision about whether to apply.

Paid Resources (Worth the Investment)

If you're serious about grant funding, investing in a paid database saves enormous amounts of time and can pay for itself with a single successful grant.

1. Funds Online (formerly Trust Funding)

Cost: Approximately £150-300/year (varies by charity size and turnover)

What it is: A comprehensive database of UK trusts and foundations from the Directory of Social Change, featuring over 8,000 funders

Best for: Detailed funder research and targeted searches when you know exactly what you're looking for

Features:

• Search by cause, location, and grant size
• See detailed funding priorities, restrictions, and exclusions
• Access contact information and application processes
• View application deadlines and success rate indicators
• Save searches and create watch lists

ROI calculation: One successful £10,000 grant pays for 30+ years of subscription. One £50,000 grant pays for a lifetime.

2. Grantfinder (Idox)

Cost: Approximately £300-500/year

What it is: Another comprehensive grants database covering trusts, foundations, corporate funders, and local authority grants

Best for: Broader searches that include corporate funding and local government in addition to trusts

Features:

• Similar search functionality to Funds Online
• Strong coverage of corporate funders
• Regular updates and new funding alerts
• Multi-user access at higher subscription tiers

Pro tip: Both Funds Online and Grantfinder offer free trials. Test both to see which interface and data coverage works best for your needs.

Other Valuable Resources

Charity Excellence Framework: www.charityexcellence.co.uk

Free resources including lists of grant-making trusts organised by cause area, size, and location. Their "100+ Free Lists of UK Charitable Trusts & Foundations" page is a goldmine for initial research.

Local Councils of Voluntary Service (CVS)

Your local CVS knows local funders that don't appear in national databases. Many produce funding newsletters highlighting local opportunities. Search for "[your area] CVS" or "[your area] council for voluntary service."

Sector-Specific Networks

• Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO)
• National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
• Sector-specific umbrella bodies (e.g., Homeless Link, National Youth Agency, Mind)

These organisations often maintain funding directories for their members and share intelligence about funders active in your cause area.

Forensic Funder Research: Going Deeper

You've found a promising funder. Now comes the most important step: forensic research to determine if you should actually apply.

Most charities make their funding decisions based on what funders say on their websites. Smart charities make decisions based on what funders actually do with their money.

Why Funder Websites Aren't Enough

Funder websites are often:

• Out of date: Priorities shift but websites aren't updated. A foundation might have supported refugee integration in 2020 but shifted focus to climate change in 2024.
• Generic: "We fund education" tells you nothing. Do they fund schools? Universities? Adult education? Literacy programmes? Early years?
• Incomplete: Websites don't show the full range of giving or the types of organisations they prefer.
• Aspirational: Stated priorities (what they'd like to fund) sometimes differ from actual giving (what they actually fund).

The Forensic Research Method

This is where you transform from applicant to detective. Here's how to analyse what funders really fund.

Step 1: Find Their Charity Commission Reports

1. Go to the Charity Commission register
2. Search for the trust/foundation name
3. Download the last 3 years of Trustees' Annual Reports (under "Accounts and annual returns")
4. Look for the "Grants Made" or "Grant-making Activities" section

For larger foundations, also check their own website for grants databases (Esmée Fairbairn, Paul Hamlyn, and others publish searchable databases of all grants made).

Step 2: Analyse Their Actual Grants

Create a spreadsheet to track:

• Recipient organisation: Who got funded? What type of organisation are they?
• Grant amount: What's the typical range? What's the median grant size?
• Purpose: What was the grant for? Project funding or core costs?
• Location: Are there geographic patterns?
• Type of organisation: Large or small? Direct service delivery or advocacy? Established charities or startups?

Do this for the last 3 years of grants (aim for analysing at least 30-50 grants total to spot patterns).

Step 3: Identify Patterns

Look for:

Real grant size range: A foundation might say "grants typically £10,000-£50,000" but analysis reveals most grants are actually £15,000-£25,000, with only 2-3 exceptional grants at £50,000. This tells you what to realistically request.

Geographic focus: Do they say "UK-wide" but 80% of grants go to London and South East? You need to know this if you're based in Newcastle.

Cause priorities: Which themes repeat year after year? Which causes are getting more funding over time versus declining?

Organisation types: Do they prefer established charities with 20+ years history or do they fund newer organisations? What's the typical annual turnover of funded organisations?

Trending interests: Are new areas emerging in recent years that aren't yet on the website?

Declining interests: Are there areas they used to fund 3 years ago but haven't funded recently?

Step 4: Look for "Ins"

Recurring grantees: Who gets funded repeatedly? Why? (Multi-year grants, exceptional performance, close relationship with trustees?) If you see the same 20 organisations receiving 80% of the funding, it's a sign the funder prefers to stick with known partners.

Similar organisations: Have they funded organisations like yours? Same size, same cause area, same beneficiary group?

Trustee connections: Search for trustees on LinkedIn. Do any have connections to your board, local area, or professional networks? A trustee who used to work in your field or lives in your community is a warm connection waiting to happen.

Geographic alignment: How many grants did they make in your area in the last 3 years? If the answer is zero, think twice.

Red Flags to Spot

• ❌ Declining assets: If total charitable expenditure is decreasing year over year, the trust is tightening its belt. They'll be more conservative and risk-averse.
• ❌ "No unsolicited applications": While not always a dead end (see workaround below), this is a yellow flag. You'll need a relationship or warm introduction.
• ❌ Only fund pre-selected partners: If you see the same 15 organisations receiving grants every year with no new recipients, the door is effectively closed.
• ❌ Geographic mismatch: They say "UK-wide" but haven't funded anything outside the South East in 3 years. Don't assume you'll be the exception.
• ❌ Shifting away from your cause: They funded your cause area 3 years ago but recent reports show zero grants in this area. Priorities have changed.

Green Flags to Look For

• ✅ Growing assets: If total giving is increasing year over year, they're expanding and likely more open to new partners.
• ✅ New grantees appearing: If you see fresh organisations in their grants list each year, they're willing to take chances on newcomers.
• ✅ Your cause area showing up consistently: Multiple grants every year in your focus area signals sustained commitment, not a one-off experiment.
• ✅ Geographic match: They regularly fund organisations in your area.
• ✅ Grant size matches your need: You're asking for £20,000, and they regularly give grants between £15,000-£30,000. Perfect fit.
• ✅ Funding organisations like yours: You're a small local charity with £200k turnover, and they regularly fund similar-sized organisations rather than only major nationals.

The "No Unsolicited Applications" Workaround

Many excellent funders state "no unsolicited applications." But this often means "no cold applications" rather than "we never fund anyone new."

Strategy:

1. Research them thoroughly: Demonstrate you understand their work better than 99% of applicants
2. Find a connection: Board member, past grantee, professional network, shared trustee
3. Send a brief inquiry letter (not a proposal): 1-2 pages maximum, addressed to a specific person if possible
4. Reference specific grants they've made: Show you've done your homework
5. Ask, don't demand: "Would you be open to learning more?" not "Please fund us"

This approach is respectful, informed, and non-presumptuous. It opens doors rather than demanding entry.

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The Funder Fit Assessment

Before you invest 15-40 hours writing a grant application, you need a systematic way to assess whether it's worth your time. Enter the Funder Fit Assessment.

The Funder Fit Checklist

Before proceeding with any application, verify every single item on this checklist:

☐ Mission Alignment

• Does our work genuinely match their stated priorities?
• Have they funded projects like ours in the last 3 years?
• Do we serve their target population/cause area?
• Can we use their exact language to describe our work authentically?

☐ Eligibility

• Are we the right type of organisation? (Registered charity, CIO, charitable trust, etc.)
• Do we meet geographic requirements?
• Do we meet size requirements? (Some funders only support organisations with income below or above certain thresholds)
• Have we checked all exclusions? (Many funders exclude: individuals, animal welfare, sports clubs, medical research, religious activity, etc.)

☐ Grant Size Match

• Is our request within their typical range based on actual grants awarded (not stated guidelines)?
• Is it worth the effort? (Don't spend 20 hours on a £500 grant application)
• Can we justify this amount with a realistic budget?

☐ Timing

• Do they have application deadlines or accept rolling applications?
• Are they currently accepting applications?
• How long is their decision process?
• Does the timing work with our project timeline?
• Can we meet their reporting requirements?

☐ Application Requirements

• Can we provide all required documents? (Accounts, business plan, policies, references, etc.)
• Do we have the capacity to complete the application to a high standard?
• Are there any requirements we can't meet? (Site visits, match funding, specific partnerships)

Scoring Your Prospects

Don't rely on gut feel. Use a scoring system to objectively compare opportunities.

The Scoring Matrix:

Scoring Guide:

• 5 = Perfect fit, strong evidence
• 4 = Very good fit, some evidence
• 3 = Moderate fit, limited evidence
• 2 = Weak fit, speculation
• 1 = Poor fit, minimal alignment

Decision Thresholds:

• 90-120 points: Strong prospect – Invest significant time. This is a high-probability application.
• 70-89 points: Moderate prospect – Worth pursuing if capacity allows and you can strengthen the application (e.g., build relationship first).
• Below 70 points: Weak prospect – Skip unless there are exceptional circumstances (e.g., a trustee personally invites you to apply).

Creating Your Qualified Prospect List

Goal: Build a pipeline of 10-15 qualified prospects per year, organised by priority tier.

Tier 1 (Hot prospects – Score 90+):

• Perfect alignment
• Realistic chance
• Apply ASAP or as soon as you can produce a quality application

Tier 2 (Warm prospects – Score 70-89):

• Good alignment but some gaps
• Apply if Tier 1 opportunities aren't available or if you can strengthen the fit (e.g., build relationship, gain additional evidence)

Tier 3 (Relationship building – High alignment but no relationship):

• Excellent fit on paper
• Need to cultivate relationship before applying
• Long-term prospects (6-18 months)

Track in a spreadsheet with these columns:

• Funder name
• Fit score
• Tier (1, 2, or 3)
• Application deadline (or "rolling")
• Grant size range
• Status (researching / relationship building / drafting / submitted / awarded / declined)
• Contact person
• Next action
• Next action date
• Notes

This organised approach ensures you're always working on the highest-probability opportunities and not letting deadlines slip through the cracks.

Time-Saving Research Strategies

Funder research can be time-consuming. Here's how to do it efficiently without cutting corners.

Batch Your Research

Don't mix research and writing. Dedicate specific time blocks:

• Research phase: 2-4 hours of intensive research where you identify and score 10-15 prospects
• Writing phase: Focus only on writing applications for your top-tier prospects
• Relationship phase: Dedicate time monthly for relationship building (attending events, sending updates, making introductions)

This context-switching minimises wasted time and improves focus.

Use Database Filters Strategically

Start broad, then narrow:

1. Location first: Filter to UK or your specific region
2. Then cause area: Apply your primary cause (e.g., "youth services" or "mental health")
3. Finally grant size: Set a realistic range (e.g., £10,000-£50,000)

Don't over-filter. You might miss opportunities where a funder supports your cause through a different categorisation. For example, a mental health charity might find funders under "health," "disability," or "community support."

Save your search criteria for future use – most databases allow this.

Learn from Others

You don't have to discover every funder yourself.

Look at similar charities' websites: Most charities have a "Thank you to our funders" page or acknowledge funders in annual reports. If you're a youth charity in Birmingham, look at what other Birmingham youth charities are receiving grants from.

Check annual reports of similar organisations: Their financial statements often list major grants received, including the funder name and amount.

Ask partner organisations: "Who do you receive grants from?" Most charities are happy to share this information.

Join sector networks: Attend events and training. Funders often present at sector conferences, and you'll learn about opportunities from peers.

Attend funder forums: Many trusts and foundations host or attend charity networking events. These are goldmines for building relationships and learning about upcoming programmes.

Set Up Alerts

Let the information come to you:

• Hinchilla Funder Updates: Get daily updates on new funding opportunities, deadline reminders, and changes to funder priorities—all curated for UK charities
• Google Alerts: Set up alerts for funder names + "new funding programme" or "grants available"
• Subscribe to funder newsletters: Most major funders have newsletters announcing new programmes
• Follow funders on social media: Twitter/X and LinkedIn are where many announce new funding
• Sign up for sector newsletters: NCVO, DSC, and sector-specific networks all share funding opportunities
• Use database alerts: Funds Online and Grantfinder both offer email alerts for new funders matching your criteria

The 80/20 Rule

80% of your success will come from 20% of funders.

Focus your energy on:

• Perfect-fit funders (high alignment)
• Building deep relationships with a few key funders
• Quality applications to 5-10 prospects rather than rushed applications to 25

It's better to apply to 5 perfect fits where you invest 20 hours per application than to apply to 25 mediocre fits where you invest 4 hours each. The former will yield more funding.

From Research to Application

You've done the research. You've scored your prospects. You have a list of strong opportunities. Now what?

When to Make Contact

Before applying (if contact is welcomed):

Check the funder's website for guidance on pre-application contact. Some actively encourage it, others discourage it. Follow their preference.

If contact is welcomed:

• Reach out 2-3 months before applying (if there's a deadline)
• For rolling programmes, reach out before you invest significant time in a full application

Good reasons to contact:

• Clarify eligibility ("We're a CIC seeking charitable status – can we still apply?")
• Ask about application process ("Is there a two-stage process or single application?")
• Gauge interest in your project idea ("Does this type of project align with your current priorities?")
• Request feedback on a past unsuccessful application

Questions that work:

• "We're planning a project on [topic]. Does this align with your current funding priorities?"
• "We're based in [area]. Do you actively fund organisations in our region?"
• "What are the most common mistakes applicants make?"
• "Is there anything about our organisation or project that would make us ineligible?"

Don't ask:

• "Do you fund charities like us?" (Too vague)
• "What are your funding priorities?" (It's on their website – shows you haven't done basic research)
• "Can you tell me if we'll be successful?" (Impossible to answer)

Building Relationships

Grant funding isn't just about applications – it's about relationships. Start building them now:

Ways to get on their radar:

1. Attend information sessions: Most major funders run webinars or in-person events. Attend these, ask intelligent questions, and introduce yourself afterward.
2. Invite them to visit: If appropriate and welcomed, invite programme officers or trustees to visit your project. Seeing your work firsthand is powerful.
3. Share annual reports and impact stories: Send your annual report (not an ask) to funders you're interested in. Include a brief note: "Thought you might be interested in our latest impact report, given your work on [shared cause area]."
4. Thank them for grants to others: If a funder makes a grant to another organisation in your sector, send a brief note: "Congratulations on your grant to [Organisation] for [project]. It's wonderful to see investment in [cause area] in [region]." This shows you follow their work and care about the cause beyond your own organisation.
5. Engage on social media: Follow them, share their posts (when relevant), and engage thoughtfully with their content.

Moving to Application

Once you've qualified a funder and determined they're a strong fit:

1. Download all application guidance: Read it thoroughly, twice
2. Note the deadline: Set an internal deadline 2 weeks before the actual deadline
3. Gather required documents: Accounts, business plan, safeguarding policies, etc.
4. Draft your proposal: Our AI assisted grant writer can speed up that process
5. Have someone else review: Fresh eyes catch errors and unclear sections
6. Review against criteria: Does your application directly address every criterion in the guidance?
7. Submit on time: Aim for 2-3 days before the deadline, never on deadline day

Remember: Finding the right funders is just the first step. Writing winning applications requires equal care and attention. Once you've identified your perfect-fit funders, invest the time to craft compelling, tailored applications that demonstrate clear alignment and strong impact. You might also need to include a Theory of Change for many UK funders.

Organizing Your Funder Research

All this research is useless if you can't find it when you need it. Here's how to organize your funder intelligence.

Tools

Free options:

• Google Sheets or Excel: Create a simple spreadsheet tracker
• Trello: Use boards for different funding stages (Research → Relationship Building → Application Ready → Submitted → Awarded)
• Notion: Build a database with linked pages for each funder

Low-cost CRM options:

• HubSpot Free: Manage funder contacts and track interactions
• Streak: Gmail add-on that turns your inbox into a CRM

What to Track

Core information:

• Funder name and contact details
• Website and online application portal
• Contact person (programme officer, grants manager, clerk to trustees)
• Application deadlines or "rolling"
• Grant size range (actual, from research)
• Geographic focus
• Cause areas funded
• Typical grant duration

Your assessment:

• Fit score (from your scoring matrix)
• Tier (1, 2, or 3)
• Eligibility (Yes/No/Unclear)
• Red flags or concerns
• Green flags or strengths

Application tracking:

• Application status (researching, drafting, submitted, decision pending)
• Date submitted
• Amount requested
• Decision date (expected)
• Outcome (awarded, declined, invited to reapply)
• Feedback received

Relationship tracking:

• Last contact date and type (email, call, meeting, event)
• Key topics discussed
• Next action (e.g., "Send project update in December")
• Next action date

Set Reminders

Use your calendar or CRM to set automatic reminders:

• 3 months before deadline: Start research and relationship building
• 6 weeks before deadline: Begin drafting application
• 2 weeks before deadline: Finish draft and begin internal review
• 1 week before deadline: Final edits and approval
• After decision: Send thank you (if awarded) or request feedback (if declined)
• Quarterly: Send updates to funders you're building relationships with

This systematic approach ensures you never miss a deadline and always maintain warm relationships.

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Start Your Funder Research Today

Strategic funder research is the foundation of grant success. It's not glamorous work – there's no quick win or magic database that solves everything. But it's the difference between a 15% success rate and a 40%+ success rate.

The charities that win grants consistently are those that:

• Invest time in understanding funders deeply
• Apply only to strong-fit opportunities
• Build relationships over time
• Organize their research and follow through systematically

Your next steps:

1. Block time this week for funder research: Put 2-4 hours in your calendar
2. Set up your tracking system: Create a spreadsheet or sign up for a free CRM
3. Research 10-15 potential funders: Use the free resources above to identify prospects
4. Score and prioritize: Use the funder fit assessment to identify your top 5
5. Start building relationships: Attend an event, send an inquiry, or reach out to a programme officer

Remember: Finding grants isn't about finding MORE funders. It's about finding the RIGHT funders – the ones where you have excellent alignment, realistic prospects, and the potential to build lasting partnerships.

The most successful charities don't spray and pray. They research strategically, apply selectively, and build relationships intentionally. Follow this approach, and you'll beat the 70% rejection rate and secure the funding your community deserves.

Want to master the complete grant process?

Read our other guides:

• Theory of Change: Complete Guide for UK Charities
• How to Justify Overhead Costs in Grant Applications
• UK Charity Grant Success Rates: The Data You Need

Browse our UK Funder Directory to discover hundreds of grant-making trusts and foundations organised by cause area, location, and grant size.